PROFILE
HOW EFFICIENT ARE Australia ’ s buildings ? The number of voices asking this question has grown considerably in recent years , with government , businesses and citizens all becoming increasingly concerned with the impact their buildings are having on the greater environment . And , with the Australian Government looking to achieve a 40 percent productivity increase in national energy usage by 2030 , the question has become one of national concern .
Set up over a decade ago , the National Australian Built Environment Rating System ( NABERS ) is managed by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and is stepping up to the challenge of providing the answer to this ever pressing question . By collecting and comparing data , the organisation enables its users to take stock of energy usage and follow up with improvements to boost their future rating .
Rating Australia At its core , NABERS uses a nationally applied rating system to measure the environmental performance of Australian
‘ With a clear goal to maintain the current interest in building emissions , NABERS is leading the nation towards a new , sustainable future ’
buildings , homes , and tenancies . NABERS takes a number of factors into account when it comes to making assessments ; it measures such variables as energy efficiency , water usage , waste management and indoor environment quality . NABERS uses a rating system that goes from one to six stars – the latter representing exemplary , market leading performance , and a one star
8 January 2017